MTN, Africa’s largest telecommunications provider based in Johannesburg, is popular for its mobile data plans and promotions. 

Many of my family, including myself, use MTN. If you like staying updated with the latest mobile devices, MTN’s 7 plan categories, from mobile data to home Internet, might suit you.

Their cheapest mobile Internet plan starts at R109, with 6 GB shareable data for up to 5 devices. You also have the option to buy it monthly or on a 24 to 36-month contract. 

The scheme extends to their other plans, which can go up to 200 GB, plus 7,500 minutes of calls. 

Home Internet plans are uncapped with speeds starting at 10 Mbps to unlimited, priced at R269 to R999 a month. Safe to say, when it comes to plan range and deals, MTN is a solid choice. 

However, we’ve had rough encounters with their customer support. Online queries, especially about payments, can go unanswered all day. We often resort to visiting a nearby branch (thankfully, there are many in the city) to resolve issues.

Lovely branch staff

“I would like to thank Irfaan, Percy and Nompumelelo for their service to me and greatly appreciated assistance. I choose this MTN store as the best customer experience in my opinion and I will always go there because of 10/10 service from these Service Champions. What lovely staff who make all the difference! Thank you for everything – you have gained a customer for life.”

Anastasija Ristovic, Google Review

Attentive and passionate staff

“Brilliant service. Secure parking. Attentive and passionate staff. I commend Tebogo M for his patience and perseverance to find the best package options.”

Quan Steyn, Google Review

Vodacom is another one of South Africa’s largest telecommunications companies worth exploring, especially if you’re looking for uncapped home fibre Internet. 

The company is well-known, serving over 130 million people across South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Ghana, Cameroon, and more. 

Safe to say, their range of products and connectivity to 5G and fibre Internet are among the best in the country. 

They offer online exclusives like the Huawei Pura Series with a free MatePad (worth R4,499) when you subscribe to the R799/month phone instalment. You can also get a PlayStation 5 Slim and a Redmi Note 13 Pro for R778/month on a 36-month contract. 

Uncapped fibre Internet deals start at R399/month, including up to 25 Mbps, a free router, and free installation.

These free services, though, come at a cost. It can take up to a month for home Internet to get installed, as per Vodacom’s policy. 

Some fibre services are also only available in select areas, though. Check in with their customer support for more info! 

Service without any issues 

“I really appreciate and like the service I have been receiving from Venessa, she has assisted me for the 3rd time in loading my colleagues airtime and data. She is patient enough in loading 20 numbers I bring to her without any issues. I thank her very much.”

Thulasizwe Dube, Google Review

Friendly assistance

“I visited the store & I was attended to by Lucas & Jaspal, I had outstanding service & am extremely happy & I would like to thank both of them for the important & friendly assistance they provided. Thanks to Tony as well.”

Robin Beale, Google Review

Telkom’s prepaid plans were crucial for me during university, providing reliable data and Internet for finishing papers anytime, anywhere. 

A major advantage is their LTE and 5G coverage throughout Johannesburg without requiring a monthly commitment. 

I guess that’s the beauty of prepaid—you only pay for what you need, when you need it. One of their most budget-friendly plans is the Prepaid Compact, which gives you 7 days of uncapped fibre connectivity for R99. 

A downside is that some plans don’t allow data sharing outside the Telkom network. However, you can opt for their pricier, shareable plans if needed.

Telkom offers various customer support channels, including AI chatbots, troubleshooting pages, and hotlines. 

However, the troubleshooting pages may not always be updated, so you might need to call the hotline for urgent issues.

Quick and seamless customer service

“Sometimes you’re lucky and you get helped immediately, and sometimes there’s a long queue. But this is a very effective branch, and they were always very helpful.”

Huys Engelbrecht, Google Review

Impressive efficiency

“Situated at the corner of Sauer and Main streets and has very friendly staff in the shop who can assist with Telcom products, Telecom sim swaps, porting and sim registration and all to do with Telcom. M impressed with the service i got.”

Emmanuel Nyahwa, Google Review

For my own company, I’d consider Vox’s business plans. Though smaller with about 120,000 customers, they reliably provide connectivity through calls, fibre Internet, and satellites.

Their voice and fibre plans for businesses feature 1:1 uncontended bandwidth, uncapped connectivity, 24/7 support, and cloud-hosted, unlimited voice packages on Microsoft Teams. 

Plans range from R799 to R7,499/month for up to 500 Mbps. Faster speeds cost between R2,198 to R16,999/month, which can be pricey for small businesses. However, satellite connection plans are valuable for remote work.

Plans start at R760 for a 74-centimetre dish, with a speed of 5 Mbps. Faster plans are pricey, at R3,025, but it’s useful, especially if you need better connectivity in an area that generally isn’t covered by networks. 

Issues are resolved with urgency

“I have been with Vox broadband to home for 5 years and the service and support has been excellent. Their call centre line gets busy so I reach out via Twitter direct messages which works perfectly. I would like to commend Neeresh Ganesh from Vox who assisted promptly after receiving my message and my connection issues were resolved with urgency. Thanks a lot for your assistance and keeping customer’s concerns as top priority.”

Agnelo Souza, Google Review

Top-notch assistance

“I have been struggling with Internet connection issues. Contacted Technical support and Marius Tawse assisted me. His assistance was top notch and his patience on a Sunday evening commendable.

Thank you Marius Tawse, you restored VOX as a good service provider for me.”

Christelle Hoggons, Google Review

Running cloud-based solutions is at the forefront of Saicom’s services, and if you’re looking for a telecommunications company in Johannesburg that can seamlessly migrate connectivity and data to another location, this company may be your cup of tea.

The company offers a myriad of cloud and hosting solutions, including voice, unified communication, messaging, and virtual agent services for contact centre businesses. 

Their network security systems are also known in South Africa, particularly in installing firewalls, breach detection, and Sendmarc solutions to protect yourself, your business, and your clients from cyber attacks. 

They lack a wide range of mobile and home Internet plans but offer mobile APN services for connectivity anywhere. For rates, contact their sales channels for quotes. 

Extremely knowledgeable 

“We have been using Saicom’s services for the past couple of years now and I must say I am thoroughly impressed. Their team is extremely knowledgeable and responsive, always going above and beyond to ensure that my software needs are met. The quality of their products is top-notch and their prices are very competitive. I highly recommend Siacom to anyone looking for reliable and efficient software solutions.”

Neil Washington, Google Review

Reliable services

“I cannot compliment Saicom enough for their incredible service over the past decade. There is a reason I am not open to switching providers despite being inundated with calls and requests. Shaul Friedman and Donovin Wilson are both incredible and a huge reason why we are such happy customers. Over the years both of these gentlemen have gone above and beyond for us. I highly recommend Saicom to anyone looking for great pricing and great service.

I cannot compliment Saicom enough for their incredible service over the past decade. There is a reason I am not open to switching providers despite being inundated with calls and requests. Shaul Friedman and Donovin Wilson are both incredible and a huge reason why we are such happy customers. Over the years both of these gentlemen have gone above and beyond for us. I highly recommend Saicom to anyone looking for great pricing and great service.”

M.B., Google Review